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The universal geography : earth and its inhabitants

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LONDON. 173<br />

tidal current, autl worked a pump wliicli forced the water through pipes iuto the<br />

streets <strong>and</strong> houses. <strong>The</strong>se water works turned out a great success, <strong>and</strong> they<br />

disappeared only with old London Bridge in 1831. In 1606 the City obtained<br />

an Act of Parliament for bringing a stream of pure water from Hertfordshire<br />

into London, but, frightened at the magnitude of the task which they had under-<br />

taken, they were onlj' too happy when Hugh ]Myddelton undertook to carry out<br />

Fis*. 91.<br />

—<br />

London : Hyde Pahk <strong>and</strong> the Serpentine.<br />

the scheme at his own risk. This was the origin of the New River Company,<br />

one of the most successful undertakings in the world. <strong>The</strong> cost of this enterprise<br />

only amounted to £17,000 ;* but a few years ago a single share of the company was<br />

sold for £50,000. At the present time the London water supply forms the<br />

subject of serious discussion, <strong>and</strong> various schemes have been brought forward for<br />

rendering the metropolis independent of a river which receives the sewage of<br />

a million <strong>inhabitants</strong>. It has been proposed to collect the rain-water which<br />

* See Timts's "Curiosities of London."<br />

VOL. IV. N

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